Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Nolfllern Notes By "Billboard" Spencer I think a question that is asked by most participants in the industry IS: Where is motorcycling going? The ins _ and outs would make JamesMichener's "Hawaii"· look like a short story but there are a few poin ts that des~rve attention, at least in this neck of the woods known as Northern California. The industry is basically one of participation, very few people are involved that don't ride a bike, either handling it themselves or as a passenger. Granted there are a few that just watch, but they are either retiring from it or trying to get in to it. Thus the need for riding areas is of paramount interest not only to the rider, but to the guy that sells you the motor, the accessory guy, the manufacturer and even the local governing bodies. They have a deep interest in just where you ride. For the guy that rides on the street, it's taken care of with DMV rules and regs. If you don't follow them yourself, the local fuzz or CHP will be very helpful, at least in showing you what you're doing wrong. Now for the dirt guy its a different ball game. The local politicians and governing bodies of most of the counties don't give a hoot one way or the other if you own a motorcycle, but where you ride it is important. In most areas, you can't legally ride although you may still do it and just haven't been caught. Not too many years ago, a guy could load his motor up and go about an hour and unload and ride till he wanted to quit. Now, its a couple of hours to Hollister Hills or the outback or Panache. Oops, thats closed too, well, say Clear Creek. Got the picture yet? Well, let me put it more succintly. Motorcycling is heading downhill at a rapid pace. Just think what you would do if next week, those places mentioned above were to be closed to off road vehicles beacuse of, a.) legalities, b.) pure economics. A.) is easy, if the legislature gets itself together, and don't discount the possibility, the ORV's demise could happen. Unlikely at this time, but still possible. B.) Places like Hollister Hills, thats Howard Harris' ranch above Hollister, Ca., might have to close because it just isn't making any money, so economically it isn't feasible to keep open. Take a minute to think about places you can ride now. Not race tracks, but places to cow trail. Not too many, you say. Well they're getting smaller as the population increases. There seems to be a glimmer of light on the horizon but it will require one and all to get with the program. Everyone should have heard about the registering of dirt bikes by now and if you haven't gotten that old 100cc Yamaha with a sticker on it, do it. 'fhe money will get us land to ride on. Ha, ha, you say, that money will find its way into some politicians pocket. Maybe so bu t each and every bike registered makes us look better in the eyes of the DMV and there should be enough of us guys in the media to keep an eye on what's happening and with Russ Sanford in Sacramento things will be watched closely. The more bucks put in the fund, the more land will be made available. The more land, the more riding and so on down the line. I don't know what the manufacturers are doing about this problem but for your own good, get it registered so maybe by 1975 we will still have some places to ride. * * * * * * I have put a lot of words in this paper about the Richmond Ramblers' problem in Richmond, Ca., and the problem still exists. The Pt. Richmond Hills are closed and there is no place for the people to ride. The Save the Hills fund is still active and a plan now is in the workings to have the Richmond Ramblers' Super Scrambles run at another track on August 20. The coming of age of motorcycling in the area happened last week with the Superbike National Kawasaki thing at Laguna Seca. This premier road racing facility may well breath new life into the professional sport as large companies such as Champion and Olympia come into the sport in hopes of luring prospective customers. Like a $50,000 purse is pretty good dough for anybody's racing scene. What may be happening is a new dawn of motorcycling and not just .a coming of age. l6l ,... '" '" eli .;, « " rJl ~ w Z W ...J U >- U .. Fremont Scrambles _ - - - - By Bill Spencer FREMONT, CAL., July 2.2, 1972 BlaCK plate riders beware. Rick Hocking is back on the rampage. Riding a Champion.framed Yamaha, the class Hen Novice se,nsa,tion completely devastated all comers in the 250 Expert Main, reminisce,"t of last year's battles with Jim Foley and John Gennai. Foley rode tonight but couldn't handle the Main and Gennai is winning the pro stuff while Hoc;king sits out a suspension. Only problem is that "'lex Jorgensen doesn't go along with that idea and he and his Champion-framed Kawasaki finished a respectable second and closing at that. Jorgensen is now the man to beat on the scrambles circuit and tonight, point leader Butch Davidson sat it out with a badly beat up hand from the previous evening at Lodi. The points run may yet tum out to be a thriller. In the 650 Expert Main, G·eorge Kalamaras came forth with his best effort to date and led the en tire 10 laps downing such greats as Bill _ Landsborough and Alex Jorgensen. While these two speedsters tried every trick in the book tc;> get by George, they both wound up taking dirt samples and Kalamaras came. home a decided winner while Landsborough contented himself to remount and dazzle the fans with some spectac~lar slides. Closing the gap on the high point series for this track was Mike VanLienden with yet another win in the 500 Expert Main on the Selby Montesa. The win, his sixth in the last six races, brings him to within 11 points of overall leader Jerry Kole. Kole spent the evening on the ground and lost more points in the 250 Expert affair. Ironic is the fact that Alex Jorgensen also leads the Lodi high poin t race and both tracks are awarding Blendzall High Point trophies. WO\lldn't Ray Hook be p'leased if the win went to one of his best customers? Andy Ahlgren fmally got everything together for the 250 Junior class and won that after having to wait until he h.ad nearly 60 points to tum from the Novice class. From the people _ho bring you .7G&• • • • • Products designed to grab your greenbacks and otherwise deflate your wa'llet. Sdle.s ... Service work. ... dll makes cu~(om SEL8Y MOTORS A good place to buy a great motorcycle 346 EI Camino. Redwood City (415) 369·4112 find your hero. Your complete program for all 1972 California Amateur and Professional races. Over 10,000 names and riding numbers. 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